Refrigerator shelf



Aug. 5, 1941. ENAVE 2,251,799 I REFRIGERATOR SHELF Filed Nov. 11, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 1 96 .4. T W W Aug. 5, 1941. A. E. NAVE 9 REFRIGERATORSHELF Filed Nov. 11, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 5, 1941REFRIGERATOR SHELF ilfred E. Nave, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Serve],Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application November11, 1931, Serial No. 173,953

6 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus broadly and isparticularly concerned with an improved type of adjustable shelving forrefrigerator cabinets.

Objects of the invention include, to provide an adjustable shelfconstruction which maybe adjusted with comparative ease to a pluralityof vertical positions; to provide a shelf of this type type which issimple in construction and easily installed in a refrigerator cabinet.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent inview of the following description taken in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the upper portion of arefrigerator cabinet showing shelving installed therein embodying thefeatures of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed plan view of the improved shelf andadjacent supporting structure, the shelf being shown in fixed adjustedposition;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view similar to Fig. 2but showing the shelfreleased from its supports ready for vertical adjustment;

Fig. 4 is a view in section and elevation taken substantially on line4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the upper portion of arefrigerator cabinet showing a modified type of adjustable shelvinginstalled therein;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the shelves of 5 together with theadjacent supporting structure;

Fig. '1 is an enlarged view in section and elevation taken substantiallyon the line 'I-'|, Fig. and,

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the shelf of Fig. 6 showing thereleased" position in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive,a refrigerator cabinet is generally indicated at C and has therein awall or liner 5 which forms the boundary of a food compartment 6 inwhich the improved adjustable shelves are mounted.

Each of the shelf assemblies includes a shelf proper, consisting of amain frame I which is spanned by a plurality of bars 8 forming the bodyor supporting portion of the shelf, the bars 8 in this instance beingshown as welded to the upper portion of the frame I. Rigidly secured tothe one side member I of the frame I is a guide bracket in the form of achannel member 9 in which a slide bar I!) is mounted, the said brackethaving a portion 9' which is bent around the frame bar and snuglyengages the latter. As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a slide bar I0 isprovided and is formed with front and rear offset portions Illa adaptedto-engage supporting brackets II which may be secured to the side wallsof the liner 5 in any suitable manner, the brackets ll being formed witha plurality of adjusting indentations or notches ii. The slide bar Illmay be and preferably is formed with a handle l3 which is accessiblefrom the front of. the cabinet when the door of the latter, notshown,-is opened.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with thedrawings, the operation or method of adjustment of the improved shelfwill be obvious. When it is desired to raise the shelf to any one of aplurality of vertical positions as defined by the indentations ornotches I2, it is only necessary to grasp the handle I3 and pull theslide bar Ill forwardlyuntilthe outwardly bent or offset portions Illaclear the brackets II as shown in Fig. 3. whereupon the shelf may beraised or lowered as desired until the said portions again register withone of the notches l2, whereupon the handle I3 is pushed inwardly to theposition shown in Fig. 2.

This type of shelf is not only easily adjusted and readily accessiblefor adjustment, but it has the advantage of rigidity and ruggedness inconstruction which is ofttimes lacking in shelves of the adjustabletype.

Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive show a modification in structure wherein thecabinet is indicated at C, the liner at 5' and the food compartment at6'. In this instance, the shelf comprises a frame generally indicated at"la having thereon bars la. The side portion 1b of the frame I hassecured thereon a centrally located one-way or stop bracket l4 and endsupporting hinge brackets l5 and IS. The guide bar I6 is bent or offsetat an intermediate point to provide a locking portion ii, the oppositeends of the bar being bent or turned inwardly as at H and I1 to engagein notches or indentations is formed in side supports ll, there being aplurality of notches to provide a plurality of vertical positions forthe shelf. By referring to Fig. 7. itwill be noted that the lock bracketl5 projects laterallyand overlies the portion I6 of the bar is above butnot below said portion, to thereby limit the rotational movement of saidbar in one direction. To adjust this type of shelf, it is only necessaryto lift or raise the shelf at an angle as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 8-, the ends I! and I1 then clearing the notches l8, permitting theshelf to be released from both supports 98 and adjusted to the desiredvertical position in the refrigerator compartment.

This type of shelf is alsoreaclily accessiblefor adjustment from thefront of the food compartment and may be quickly. and easily adjusted.

It will be understood that certain minor I changes in details ofconstruction and design may be adopted within the scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

I claim: 1. Shelving for the food compartment of a refrigeratorcabinet'comprising notched or indented supports associated with the sidewalls. of said,-

compartment, a shelf proper having means at one side adapted to engagein the notches of the ing bracket, said bar being accessible formanipulation from the front of the compartment.

4. Shelving for the food compartment of a refrigerator cabinetcomprising supporting brackets fixed to opposite side walls of the foodcompartment and having notches or indentations arranged in verticallystepped relation therein,

i a shelf proper having a frame member which at one side is adapted toengage in the notches of the adjacent supporting bracket and at itsopposite side is provided with a guide bracket, and a locking draw barslidably mounted'in said guide bracket and having portions which areofiset laterally to engage in the notches of the opposed supportingbracket and to be freed from said bracket when the'locking bar is slidforwardly,

- said bar being provided with a handle accessible from the front ofsaid compartment.

5. Shelving for the food compartment of a refrigerator cabinetcomprising supporting brackets fixed to opposed side walls of, saidcompartment and having notches or indentations arranged in verticallystepped relation therein, a shelf proper bounded by a frame member whichat one side isadapted to engage in the notches of the adjacentsupporting bracket and at its oppoadjacent support and a locking drawbar slidably mounted at the opposite side of the-shelf and havingportions adapted to engage in. the notches of the adjacent supports,'and be released from said notches by movement of the bar inwardly andoutwardly of the, food compartment.

2. Shelving for the food compartment of a resite side is provided with aguide bracket of channel shape in cross section, and a locking draw barslidably mounted in said channel and having portions which are offsetlaterally outwardly tov ward said wall for engagement in the notches offrigerator cabinet comprising supporting members on opposed side 'wallsof the compartment and having vertically stepped notchesor indentationstherein, ashelf proper having a frame provided with a bracket at oneside. thereof; a locking draw bar slidably mounted insaid bracket andhaving portions which are offset to A engage in the notches of theadjacent supporting member or be released from said notches when thedraw bar'is drawn forwardly, and means associated with the opposite sideof said frame permitting releasable engagement with the notches. of theopposed supporting member.

- 3. Shelving for the food compartment of a refrigerator cabinetcomprising Y supporting brackets fixed to opposed sides of the saidcomthe adjacent supporting bracket, said bar being releasable from saidnotches through sliding movement forwardly with respect to thecompartment.

6. Shelving for the food compartment of a refrigerator cabinetcomprising supports associated with the side walls of said compartmentproviding a plurality of vertically spaced shelf receiving notches orindentations, a shelf proper extending substantially the distancebetween said supports and having a frame of substantially rigidconstruction, said frame comprising opposed side members and frontandrear members, one

partment and having notches or indentations arranged in stepped relationvertically therein,

a shelf proper having a frame of open construction which at one side isadapted to engage in the notches of the adjacent supporting brackets,and

, a sliding bar mounted on the opp site side of said frame formovementinwardly and outwardly of engage. in the notches of the opposed supportof said side members being adapted to be engaged in the. notches of theadjacent of said supports, the other of said side members being providedwith a bracket; an extension from said shelf movably mounted in saidbracket so that said extension may be moved to assume more than oneposition while said shelf is in its operative vposition, said extensionbeing adapted when moved to one position to be engaged in the notches ofthe other of said supports to hold Said shelf in 5 its load-bearingposition, said extension being the compartment and having portionsadapted to j adapted when moved to another position to be released fromsaid notches so that said shelf may be vertically re-positioned.

ALFRED E. NAVE.

